Paxistima myrtifolia
Common name: 
Oregon Boxwood
Mountain Lover
Pronunciation: 
paks-ISS-ti-ma mur-ti-FO-lee-a
Family: 
Celastraceae
Genus: 
Paxistima
Synonyms: 
Paxistima myrsinites
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
Yes
  • Evergreen shrub, 8-36 inches (20-90 cm) tall, sometimes higher, prostrate, spreading.  Twigs 4-angled (squarish in cross-section).  Leaves opposite, simple, broadly ovate to elliptic or obovate, 1-3 cm long, finely serrate to entire, leathery, light green.  Flowers small, red-brown.  Fruit white, 8 mm long.
  • Sun (more compact) to part shade, well-drained, light, slightly acid soil.  Easy to keep low by pruning.
  • Hardy to USDA Zone 5      Native to the mountains from British Columbia to California.
Click image to enlarge
  • plant habit, in forest

    plant habit, in forest

  • plant habit

    plant habit

  • foliage

    foliage

  • leafy shoot

    leafy shoot

  • leafy shoots with buds

    leafy shoots with buds